Researchers Say Endangered , Birds May Hold the Secret to , Surviving Climate Change.
'Newsweek' reports that an endangered species of
seabird is changing its migratory pattern to reach more
hospitable climates, offering researchers new insights.
On January 29, researchers at Oxford University's
Biology Department and the University of Liverpool
released the results of a 14-year study.
The team's findings were published in the
'Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.'.
The long-running study examined the
migratory habits of the Balearic shearwater,
the most endangered bird in Europe. .
The study looked at how behavioral flexibility
can influence a shift in migratory patterns. .
Researchers observed that the birds were migrating farther
and farther north in the summer, moving from the Atlantic
coasts of Spain and France to the United Kingdom.
We found that the best predictor of
this change in migratory behavior
was the average sea surface temperature
in the summering-grounds, suggesting that
the birds may well be following changes
in underlying marine resources, Joe Wynn, study author, via 'Newsweek'.
The fact that individuals can be
this flexible in the face of rapid
climate change is encouraging, Joe Wynn, study author, via 'Newsweek'.
'Newsweek' reports that the migratory change means the birds
have a longer return trip to the Mediterranean every winter,
the long-term impacts of which remain unclear.
We don't know, for instance,
how the delayed return to the breeding
grounds is affecting their recovery from
migration and courtship behaviors,
which might have knock-on effects
on their breeding success or survival. , Patrick Lewin, study co-author, via 'Newsweek'.
In a species that's already
critically endangered, we really
need answers to those questions. , Patrick Lewin, study co-author, via 'Newsweek'